Silver Springs Elementary School - April 13, 2020

Mark Your Calendars

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A Message from Mrs. Booth

Dear Silver Springs Families,

I hope that everyone was able to find some time to rest, relax, and rejuvenate over Spring Break. The weather was beautiful on Saturday. My family and I were able to get outside and get some fresh air as we laughed and played together.

Tomorrow, Monday, April 13th, we will be shifting from the Home Learning Support framework that teachers have been sending home thus far to a Distance Learning Instruction model that is consistent with the Continuity of Learning Plan requirements outlined in the Governor's Executive Order.

Your child(ren)'s teacher has likely already sent you the overview for the learning activities for this week, with some additional information about live face-to-face meetings that will be at the same time everyday. The biggest shift you will likely see is that the learning activities being sent home will be more focused on new learning of the most important standards across content areas, and the increase in frequency of the live face-to-face interactions with teachers.

Continuity of Learning Plan Overview:

Students and/or families will receive a student schedule from your child's teacher indicating when each grade level classroom, small group, or individual ‘face-to-face’ live interactions are available.

The blocks of time are reserved for live interactions by grade in order to avoid overlaps.

Length of each face-to-face session will be communicated directly from your teacher, and varies based on developmental appropriateness, and the purpose of the session.

Whenever possible and appropriate, teachers will record scheduled “live sessions” that include new learning; keep in mind that many of the “live” sessions will be opportunities for discussion of pre-recorded lessons or assignments, an opportunity to ask questions, or connect with the teacher and peers.

Students will also receive learning links, pre-recorded lessons, resources and assignments for learning from their classroom teachers so that students can access at any time.

This support is structured such that parents/students can participate within their individual family scheduling needs.

New learning will focus on those concepts most important for the content area or course for the remainder of the year.

Parents/Students can plan individually when and how they will engage in this instruction

Teachers will continue to be available for individual parent/student support at designated times during the week and/or at a mutually agreed upon time.

As we move into this new Distance Learning Instruction model, we will continue to seek feedback and input from students, families and teachers in the coming weeks. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me or your child's teacher at any time with questions or to discuss unique needs.

Technology devices are available for loan to students who do not have access. Please complete this Technology Device Checkout Form to request the use of a device. You can reach our Technology Department Help Desk at 248-344-3680 Monday - Friday from 8am-4pm.

Stay safe and be well!

Katie Booth

Principal

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April 10, 2020 Letter from the Superintendent

Dear Northville Public Schools Families, Staff and Community,

Thank you for your ongoing patience, and for the many ways in which our community continues to come together in support of our students, our teachers, and our schools as we navigate new territory, and for the ways in which our community has rallied to support those in need, and those on the front lines of addressing this public health crisis. Our thoughts also remain with everyone personally impacted by loss of loved ones, as COVID-19 takes its toll on our community. We are likewise mindful of the fact that we are all grieving “normalcy” along with our own unique losses during this time.

The extended school closure remains a disappointing, but necessary step taken to slow the spread of COVID-19, and protect the health and safety of our community. As we continue to grapple with what “school” looks like during this crisis, we are considering that our students, like all of us, need time for learning, playing, coping, healing and processing. We know that our students need opportunities for connection with their peers and with their teachers; and that mentally and physically we do better when we are on a schedule, and when we are fueled with proper sleep, food, and movement. We have tried to balance these considerations as we approach moving from a short term school closure to the reality of finishing out the school year.

As noted in my April 3, 2020 communication, we have been developing a plan to shift from our current weekly Home Learning Support framework to a Distance Learning Instructionmodel, consistent with the Continuity of Learning Plan requirements outlined in the Governor’s Executive Order 2020-35 (COVID-19)issued on April 2, 2020, with a target date of April 13, 2020 to begin implementation.

Our NPS Continuity of Learning plan was developed in collaboration with teachers, instructional leaders, parents, district administrators, school board members, and local employee groups. An initial draft of the plan was presented to the Board of Education on April 7, 2020, and was further revised with additional stakeholder input and reviewed at the April 9, 2020 Board of Education meeting. For your awareness, the onlysubstantive change between the first and second drafts of the Continuity of Learning Plan was to reduce the number of synchronous, or scheduled “live” sessions planned at each level. We have not reduced the opportunity to continue coursework in each class, instead, these opportunities will be available through online access whenever convenient for the learner. This affords flexibility for those who prefer to follow the school schedule to do so, while those who find the school schedule challenging are able to access new content in other ways.

The plan will be implemented over the course of next week, beginning on April 13, 2020. As the plan is implemented, teachers will have the latitude to make individual adjustments based on the needs of students, and our principals and District leaders likewise will continue to seek the feedback and input of students, parents and teachers as we navigate through the coming weeks.

Please read the attached letter for a more detailed overview of the Continuity of Learning Plan.

Thank you for your partnership as we work together with our students, staff, families and community to promote the learning, safety, health and well-being of all.

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Silver Springs Playground is Closed

We completely understand that the Stay at Home order issued by our Governor during this challenging time is extremely difficult for you and our students, and that part of our being as humans is socializing with each other. As part of the order, Governor Whitmer has encouraged families and individuals to get outside, take walks, etc., but the order does not allow for large gatherings, or gatherings at parks and playgrounds, which includes on our school playgrounds.

In accordance with the Governor’s Stay Safe. Stay Home. Executive Order, and by Order of the Oakland County Health Division, Northville Public Schools has closed all of our school playgrounds and fields, including ALL play structures. Student safety and well being is at the forefront of all we do for our students both at Silver Springs and across Northville Public Schools. We are asking you to do everything you can to slow the spread. We appreciate your help in keeping each other safe and healthy.

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Looking for some at home Science Experiments?

Check out the link below to Mad Science of Detroit...there are tons of cool experiments to choose from!

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Medical Mask and Supportive Art Update

Thank you for your ongoing support for our Health Care Providers during this pandemic. We have been so grateful for your support.

Our Health Care Providers have asked us to consolidate drop off locations and days. They have requested two main drop offs in the Northville District located at the east and west sides of the District. The drop off locations will be:

Winchester Elementary School at 16141 Winchester Drive, Northville, and

Moraine Elementary School at 46811 W. 8 Mile Rd, Northville.

Donations will be picked up on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at these locations.

Additionally, supportive art is needed from our students. We had a request from Providence hospital that it sure would be nice to see some positive, uplifting springtime artwork from children hanging on their walls during such a difficult time. If your child would like to create happy, springtime art to cheer up health care providers and patients alike please also place those in the Medical Mask bin at Amerman, Winchester or Moraine. They will be picked up and taken to Providence Park. Once Providence Park is covered with happiness, additional drawings and art will be shared with nursing homes, and other Health Care Providers as well.